Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 10/20/09 in Columbia, S.C.

[Q1]A video package ran down the Punk/Taker history and hyped the main event…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Jerry “The King” Lawler and Michael “Glory” Cole welcomed us to Smackdown. We have the Raw team due to Grisham’s wedding and JR’s Bells Palsy attack. Best wishes to both. The announce team hyped the Mysterio and Batista vs. Kane and Jericho. King said Smackdown would be better with them on the headsets. Wanna bet?

Chris Jericho’s music hit and he made his ring entrance. A video recapped the HBK/Jericho “match” from Raw. Jericho cut his same promo. He said he needed to shut the “giant oral orifices of DX.” He said he needed to shake the team up to prove its dominance like he and Kane would prove their dominance over Rey and Batista. Cryme Tyme’s music hit and JTG came to the ring. Jericho asked him if Shad was in jail. Wow. JTG said he was sick so they couldn’t have the match Jericho wanted. Jericho said what made him sick was sharing the ring with Cryme Tyme.

Vickie Guerrero came out and interrupted. She introduced herself as a special consultant to Team Smackdown and then she introduced Escobar. They made their ring entrance. Escobar got a mic and showed why he needs a manager. The crowd chanted “Who are you?” Ziggler’s music hit and he came to the ring with a mic. He said he would be the one to carry Team Smackdown and he wasn’t going to let any of them to mess it up for him. JTG said after losing four straight title matches and dumping Maria his name should be Dolph Loser.

McIntyre’s music hit and he came out. He said he was the ace in the match as he was handpicked by Mr. McMahon. He said he should have been made captain. Kane’s pyro popped and he came out. How many mics do we they carry? Kane said noe of them were worthy of being in the ring with him. Jericho said, “Or me.” They announced that it would be a four on five match. The current team against the team of last week’s losers. Whatever team won would be the team that joined he and Kane on Sunday. Jericho said the match was next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: They had to get everybody out there to try and hype this PPV match that no one cares about. Bad idea as it diminished each person as another came out. I don’t like where this is headed.

[Q2]Back from commercial, Matt Hardy finished his entrance and R-Truth made his lame ass entrance…

1. Matt Hardy, R-Truth, The Hart Dynasty, and Finlay defeated JTG, Dolph Ziggler, Eric Escobar, and Drew McIntyre at 9:31 to become the new Team Smackdown. JTG and Kidd started. Kidd got the quick upperhand, but Kidd escaped and tagged in Finaly. Finlay quickly took control and worked his offense on JTG. JTG drove him back into his corner and tagged in Ziggler. Ziggler worked Finlay in the corner. He kicked Finlay, but Finlay caught the foot and clotheslined Ziggler. Finlay lifted for the Celtic Cross. Ziggler escaped and whipped Finlay to the corner. He charged in but Finlay moved. Ziggler hit the post and bounced to the floor. Finlay picked him up as they cut away…[C]

Back at 5:02, Escobar had a chin lock on Finlay. Finlay hip tossed out, but Escobar wrapped the arm and tagged in McIntyre. McIntyre mounted Finlay and punched him repeatedly. Kane and Jericho were shown watching backstage. Ziggler tagged in and hit a roll up and then an elbow for two. Ziggler locked in a rest hold and Finlay teased the tag. Ziggler drug him back and tagged in McIntyre. McIntyre hit several strikes and retagged Ziggler. Ziggler hit a cheap shot on Truth, allowing Hardy to tag in.

Hardy leveled Ziggler and hit a slam,. He went to the second rope and hit a clubbing blow or two. Hardy hit the Side Effect and covered. Escobar broke the count and the nine men took turns taking each other out. JTG and Hardy were the legal men. Finlay hit JTG with the shillelagh and Hardy followed with the Twist of Fate for the win. Post match, a video recapped the end as the new Team Smackdown celebrated. Lawler buried the losers by saying Team Raw should now be worried…

[Q3]Backstage, Punk, Long, and referee Scott Armstrong argued about what was going to happen tonight in the match. Armstrong said he wasn’t going to cheat, no matter what. He went to leave and Vince McMahon walked in. He smiled widely and said, “We need to talk.”…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I really don’t know how I feel about this switch. I don’t think this is the better team when you consider how all of them are going to job to DX. The Harts certainly don’t need that. I think I would rather have Escobar, McIntyre, and Cryme Tyme punked before Truth, the Harts, and Hardy. I just don’t like.

Back from commercial, John Morrison made his ring entrance. The announce team hyped his match at the PPV and a video recapped Miz vs. Janetty from Raw. Knox made his ring entrance. A video had Knox talking about hurting Morrison’s abdomonals. Knox is seriously FUed…

2. John Morrison defeated Mike Knox at 3:06. Knox hit his cross body almost immediately for two. He whipped Morrison face first to the corner and hooked in an abdominal stretch. Morrison slid out and rolled Knox up for two. Morrison hit several strikes and then the leg lariat on Knox. He hit the running sitting knee for two. Morrison tried for a move but Knox pushed him off. Morrison turned around and ate a big boot. Knox hit the far rope and charged. Morrison tripped him and Knox hit the ropes hard. Morrison missed Starship Pain for the win. Post match, Morrison cut a promo on his match with the Miz…The announce team hyped the World Title main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: For the record, I really like Mike Knox. And I think we all know how I feel about Morrison. That being said, that sucked. Three GD minutes? Are you serious? And he missed Starship Pain. By a mile. A country mile. Great editing is never gonna fix a missed spot. Nice try.

[Q4]Back from commercial, Jericho and Kane congratulated the new team. They said the team better follow their lead. They stopped them and said they were united in defeating team Raw. Jericho said they should watch he and Kane defeat Mysterio and Batista…

Mickie James was shown talking to Mae Young. Michelle McCool walked up and hugged Young. She said she hated James wasn’t on the Smackdown Divas’ team, James said she wasn’t on the team because McCool was scared of her. She walked off and Beth Phoenix walked up. She greeted Mae and told McCool she was excited about being on the team. McCool said she was too. Beth said she still meant what she said last week and McCool would not be champion long. She walked off and Young said, “She told you.” McCool told her to shut up and Young totally bitched slapped her…

The announce team showed a video of the end of the Rey/Batista match from last week. It showed Batista’s shoulder coming up before the three count. Rey and Batista were shown backstage “arguing” over who one. Rey plugged Batista’s DVD and Batista put over their match for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: That was awesome. Mae Young pwned McCool. It brought a tear to my eye. Do you know how happy I am to see a damn story arc in the Divas? And please let this be the start of a Batista heel turn.

Back from commercial, everyone made separate entrances…

[Q5]3. Rey Mysterio and Batista defeated Chris Jericho and Kane 9:55. Batista and Jericho started. Jericho slapped him and Batista destroyed him. He tagged in Rey and they worked tag moves on Jericho. Mysterio hit a running leg drop for two. He hit a drop toe hold for a 619 setup. Batista distracted the ref and Kane grabbed Rey when he hit the opposite ropes. He tossed Rey to the floor hard. Rey recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 4:45, Kane had Rey twisted up in the ring. A video recapped the assault before the break. Jericho tagged in and slapped Rey around. Rey reversed a whip into a bulldog. Jericho made the tag and Kane took out Batista. The ref admonished Kane while Jericho worked on Rey. Kane hit a sitting drop kick for two. Jericho tagged in and worked Rey in the corner. He held a vertical suplex and flexed his free arm. He covered for two and locked in a rest hold. Rey made his feet and Jericho tried for a powerbomb. Rey reversed into a hurricanranna over the rope.

Double hit tag and Batista destroyed Kane. He hit a clothesline in the corner, followed by a shoulder tackle. He hit the spinebuster and turned the thumbs down. He setup Kane, but Jericho hit a running insaguri. He charged at a dazed Batista, and Batista hit a spinebuster. Kane hit a big boot and ran Batista to the post. He called for the chokeslam. Rey jumped on Kane and Kane chokeslammed him. Kane turned around and Batista hit a spear for the win…

[Q6]Backstage, McMahon, Punk and Long were all looking at Armstrong who looked distressed. McMahon said he was excited about the match. Punk agreed. McMahon cut a promo on Wrestlemania weekend and said Armstrong’s dad could be a Hall of Fame candidate. Everyone said they were excited again and Armstrong said he was ready…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I wish I was excited for that last match. It could have been decent, but it wasn’t. I’m not even sure if it advanced any storyline, but it didn’t entertain all that much. Rey got beat up and Batista saved him. We’ve been there. I do like that they used Scott’s dad as motivation. That gave it a more “real” feel. Nice work there, but the storyline as a whole is stupid. Why mess with Taker?

Back from commercial, the announce team hyped the main event…Mickie James made her ring entrance. Layla came out to crickets…

4. Mickie James defeated Layla at 2:45. Layla slapped Mickie around. Mickie slapped her Mae Young style and went to work. She hit a neckbreaker for two. She whipped Layla to the corner. Layle stopped and turned into a weird kick from Mickie for the win…

The announce team discussed the passing of Captain Lou Albano. A video recapped Albano’s life and career…

Shore’s Slant: That match looked like it was underwater. Everything seemed slow and deliberate. The finisher was almost as bad as Starship Pain. It was awful. My best wishes and condolences to the Albano family. Thank you so much for allowing him to hold a find place in my childhood memories. We miss him too.

[Q7]Back from commercial, a video recapped the Orton/Cena feud…In the ring, Old Kink and Cole ran down the Bragging Rights card…CM Punk, Teddy Long, and Scott Armstrong came out to the ramp. Punk said he could whip everybody’s ass in the arena and watching at home. He said that made him feel good, but not as good as knowing that he was going to make Taker tap again. Punk said the glimmer of hope that everyone has that Taker could somehow win is futile. He said he would once again be the only straight edge World Champion…[C]

Back from commercial, CM Punk was introduced in the ring. Teddy Long sat in a chair ringside and Armstrong was in the ring. Taker made his ring entrance. Cole managed to present a dissertation about how awesome the entrance was. Taker glared at Armstrong when he handed him the belt…

[Q8]5. The Undertaker defeated CM Punk in a submission match for the World Heavyweight Championship at 11:37. Taker hit a quick punch, knocking Punk down. Taker worked the arm and slammed him. He missed the follow up elbow and Punk tried for the Anaconda Vice. Taker escaped quickly and looked from Punk to Armstrong to Long into the break…[C]

Back at 4:50, Taker tossed Punk over the top rope. Taker went out and worked Punk on the announce table and stairs before rolling him into the ring. Taker went for a drop kick and Punk ducked. Taker got tied up in the ropes and Punk went to work. He drove Taker’s knees into the stairs. He stomped Taker in the head and rolled him into the ring. Punk came off the top rope and Taker caught him by the throat.

Punk escaped and they traded blows. Taker got the best of him and whipped Punk to the corner. He hit a clothesline in the corner and then Snake Eyes, the big boot, and leg drop. He tried for Devil’s Gate but Punk escaped. Taker grabbed him and went for Old School. Long stood up and it distracted Taker. Punk pulled him off the top and hit the knee in the corner, followed by the bulldog.

Punk told Teddy to hand him the chair. Teddy handed it to Armstrong and told him to give it to Punk. Punk grabbed it out of Armstrong’s hand. He charged at Taker and Taker kicked it into Punk’s face. Taker chokeslammed Armstrong and stared at Teddy. Teddy backed away and Punk hit Taker with the chair. Punk applied the Anaconda Vice and Teddy called for another ref. Another ref ran down and as soon as he got in position, Take reversed into the Hell’s Gate for the win. Post match, a video recapped the end and Teddy looked shocked and upset to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: Not a terrible showing from these two, but not a classic either. I just don’t like the Fourway, and the screwjob angle is terrible, so it’s hard to get behind this match. I just want this PPV to be over so maybe Vince can go back to Raw. A very poor showing again tonight from the blue team. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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